Article of luggage



July 17, 1934. I J, H, PLQTKlN l 1,967,160

ART ICLE OF LUGGAGE Filed Sept. 18, 1953 Patented July 1 Claim.

S' tion is directed toward the incorporation of rei outside thereof.

inforcing means which stiifen the bag transversely adjacent the bottom edges thereof, and to the association therewith of a protecting scuff plate applied exteriorly to each lower corner of the bag.

In the accomplishment of these objects I nd it advantageous to employ means in substantially the relationship shown in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a Gladstone bag having its lower corners protected and opposite ends transversely reinforced by means shown elsewhere in detail;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in 1 perspective of one lower corner of the bag looking toward the bottom of the bag;

Fig. 3 is a detail in section on line 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 isa detail in perspective of the angle plate used for reinforcing one of the gusset ends of the bag adjacent its bottom.

By way of illustration I have shown in Fig. 1 a conventional Gladstone bag having comple- .mentary case sections A and B, each formed with a bottom 6, opposite gusset ends 'l which are relatively flexible, and a top 8 all connected to a common side Wall 9. A hinged connection 10 Vis provided between proximate edges of the botl' toms of the two case sections which are thereby adapted to be swung open or closed. A reinforced frame 11 in the form of a bow may extend around the marginal edges of each case section. To lock the case sections together, clasps l2 may 'be employed.

A bag of the type described may be made of various materials with leather, imitation leather, or some other covering material applied to the Suitable linings are also provided, as is common practice, the nature of the linings depending to some extent upon their respective purposes, locations, etc. Itis usual, however, to provide some sort of a board for reinjgfc'rcing the bottoms and side walls, leaving the gusset ends relatively flexible. In consequence the bag may develop points of weakness in a direction transversely of and proximate to the Vhinged vconnection between the case sections. It fis largely for the purpose of reinforcing the bag Application September ,A i i (Cl. 19o-49) at such points that the present improvements have been devised.

Along each corner formed by juncture of Va gusset end with its associatedbottom, I apply an angle plate 15 (see Fig. 5). This plate extends for a major portion of the distance along the bottom ofthe gusset end, one of its flanges eX- tending vertically in engagement therewith and the other horizontally in engagement with the proximate bottom. The angle plate which is desirably applied to the bag exterior, is concealed beneath a corner piece 17 which is formed with three faces adapted to extend in part over the proximate bottom, end and side wall of the bag. This corner piece which may be made of leather or the like is edge-connected as by stitching 18 to the bag so as to confine the angle plate securely in place.

It may be preferable to trim ofi one flange of the angle plate as at 20 at the end which lies adjacent the bag corner formed by juncture of the proximate gusset end and side wall. The space thus provided may accommodate a split shank 21 which is connected at its outer end with a head 22 forming a foot for the bag. This foot bears against a scuif plate 25 applied exteriorly to oneA of the bag corners over the corner piece thereof. An opening through the scul plate is provided for the insertion therethrough of the foot shank, as shown in Fig. 4. The scuff plate which underlies the bag is flanged at 26 and 27 along two of its adjacent edges, the flanges extending upwardly to overlap in part the corner piece upon its faces which lie upon the gusset end and side wall of the bag. The scuff plate accordingly has bearing against the corner piece uponthree faces thereof, and when locked in place by the foot shank whose inner end may be clinched,v as shown in Fig. 4, serves additionally to secure-the angle plate against endwise movement.

A bag having the features of improvement herein described is adequately reinforced at one of its points of weakness. With four such angle plates and feet applied to the bag, one to each lower corner thereof, the bag bottom is maintained in elevated position above the plane of the surface on which it may be rested. Sagging of the bag in the region of the hinged connection between the two case sections is resisted, due in part to the angle plates which proceed transversely of the case along its bottom edges, as hereinbefore described. In addition the provision of scuff plates, associated with such reinforcing angle plates, prevents transverse collapse of the case sections lil 0 mate edges of the bottoms of the two casesections, a rigid angle reinforcement extending exteriorly, both horizontally and vertically, along the corner forming the junctureof each bottom and gusset end for stiffening the case sections transversely of the hinge line, acorner piece applied over each angle reinforcement having' connection along its edges with adjacent walls of the case sections and serving thereby to conne the angle reinforcement securely in place, a rigid scui plate arranged exteriorly at each bag corner formed by juncture of the bottoms, ends, and sides and extending along a portion of each and overlapping Yan end portion of said angle reinforcement, and a foot adjacent the bottom face of` each scut plate having a shank extending therethrough and through the proximate corner Apiece and bottom adjacent one end of said angle reinforcement for clamping and securing the angle reinforcement between relatively rigid portions ofthe bottom and scui plate to prevent sagging of the intermediate or hinge portion of the bag;`

K JOSEPH H. PLOTKIN. 

